[multi-chap] Song of Storm - Chap. 8/?
Title: The Song of Storm - side story/sequel to You think You know Me
Pairing: OhMiya (main), Sakuraiba (side), Aimiya
Rating: PG-13 - R (not sure, might change as the story goes on)
Genre: AU, fluff, romance, angst (a lot!)
Summary: Nino's life was always full with ups and downs. But he desereves to be happy too, right? Who knew that'd be a stormy road to reach that...
A/N: starts before the other fic in timeline. no special need to read the other fic to understand this but feel free to do so XD yoroshiku, ne? m(-.-)m
A/N2: age-gap between Ohno and Nino is 10-years. Enough to be an excuse but not too much to make Oh-chan look like a total perv XD
Previous chapters:
Prologue Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Chapter 3 Chapter 4 Chapter 5 Chapter 6 Chapter 7
Chapter 8:
The next weeks Nino didn’t manage to talk to his friend. Aiba was busy preparing for his summer tour - which had to be rescheduled because of some problems with his dorama that was also scheduled for the summer -, also Nino himself had things to settle… named finding a radio station with an open morning slot for the juniors’ program. Manager Yamada was so sure that it was impossible to settle that it made Nino more determined. He will definitely make it work even if he has to go to the Emperor himself or has to set up a new radio station… And when he was finished with it, he’ll definitely fire that bastard! At least the others will have the sample in front of them. Just in case… He didn’t plan on firing everyone… just the critical ones… He highly doubted that his uncle would endure it though so far he gave Nino free hand in everything…
“Excuse me, I’m Ninomiya from Johnny’s Agency. I have an appointment with Touda sachou” Nino told to the woman behind the reception desk.
The woman raised an eyebrow at Nino’s sight. There was surely scheduled a meeting for the name, Ninomiya, but this boy just looked ridiculously young to be that person who should meet with the sachou.
“Can I see your ID, sir? Please…” she asked with a disgustingly polite smile.
Nino gritted his teeth slightly but showed the car to her. He even smiled back at her.
“Thank you, Touda-sama is waiting you at the 12th floor’s meeting room” she said finally handing the visitor pass to Nino.
“Thank you so much for being so ready to help…” Nino said sarcastically before headed to the elevators.
He won’t back down!
“Touda-sama, it’s pleasant to meet you. I’m Ninomiya from Johnny’s Agency, thank you for seeing me” Nino said with a deep bow and handed his call-card to the man.
“The pleasure is all mine, Ninomiya-san” the man said looking at the small card in his hand. “‘Chief-manager’? At such a young age?” Touda asked and quirked an eyebrow.
“Yeah… Unexpected promotion…” Nino offered with a charming smile.
“Impressive. Please, take a seat!... So, what can I help you?” he asked when they sat down.
“We want to start a radio program for our trainees and we’re looking for partners to cooperate with us on this project. We want it in the morning, before school- and work-hours. Fan-letters, giving advices, sharing experiences… the usual stuff. We want to start the program once a week but we’re looking forward to extend it into an everyday program” Nino explained the main points.
“I see and where’s the profit to us if we agree on cooperating with you?” Touda asked rather skeptical about a project presented by a 19-year-old - chief-manager or not…
But Nino didn’t even bat an eyelash at the question. He saw through the man; he knew he wants to abash him. But he was prepared…
“Once in a month one of our already debuted idol would join the program as a guest. That’ll surely boost up your listening ratings” Nino said smirking confidently.
“Why are you so sure about that?” the radio owner asked.
“Did you take a look at the Oricon lists recently? The top 10 singles are all came from our agency. Our solo artist, Aiba Masaki got no.1 with his new album. Again. He’s the first under-aged singer who managed to sell over a million copies of his album on the first week, five consecutive times. Oh, and one third of it was pre-ordered half a year ahead!” Nino said pushing a couple of papers with charts and statistics in front of Touda. “That’s how much people will listen to your radio if you decide to cooperate with us” he finished and leaned back in his chair pretty satisfied with himself.
The numbers were talking for themselves and people like Touda - or his uncle, to be true - listened to the numbers only. That was the first lesson Nino learnt in the world of business and also it was his no. 1 weapon now…
After a few minutes of studying the papers and silent debating, Touda looked up at Nino.
“All right, Ninomiya-san, I’m looking forward to work with you on this project. Let’s go with a 6-months trial contract to see if it worth its promises. And I want this Aiba-san to be the first guest who joins the program” the man voiced his conditions.
“Deal” Nino said holding out his hand…
Not an hour later Nino shut open the door to Yamada’s office.
“You’re fired!” he announced smirking smugly at the older man.
“You can’t fire me, brat!” the man jumped from his seat behind his desk.
“Oh, but I definitely can! And I just DID!” Nino repeated. “You don’t need to come tomorrow… Oh, and by the way, juniors’ radio show starts next month on Kanto FM. Don’t forget to listen to it!” Nino said smugly before left laughing when Yamada’s cursing reached him at the end of the corridor…
Ever since Aiba’s debut concert Nino was always there with him on the opening night of his tour - also he always bought everything Aiba-related, he promised to be his no. 1 fan after all. Sometimes he arrived earlier if his schedule let him. Just like this time.
But he really didn’t like what he saw. Something was wrong with Aiba and he will get to know what it was, no matter what…
“What’s wrong with you, Aiba-chan?” he asked when the idol was finished with his rehearsal and got back to his dressing room.
“Don’t know what you’re talking about…” Aiba replied automatically trying to dodge the question while he wiped his face with a wet towel he got from a staff member on his way back here. “Uwa… why does it have to be this hot?” he whined collapsing on the carpeted floor.
Nino tucked his Nintendo DS into his back pocket and crouched down next to his friend looking serious.
“Oi! Don’t try to change the subject just spill it!”
Aiba raised his head and looked at the half opened door then back at his friend.
“It’s Sakurai” he said finally.
Nino raised an eyebrow silently. If he counted well this was kind of the first time Aiba called his manager by his name and not that stupid chipmunk-faced manager.
“Something happened?” he asked his voice casual though in the inside he was dying to get to know the details.
Even he wasn’t a girl he loved gossip, if that didn’t include him… of course…
“I… kind of happened… to give him a handjob… and he too… gave me one…” Aiba said and much to his annoyance he felt his cheeks heat up in blushing.
A surprised sound escaped Nino’s throat. Okay, he officially didn’t expect this kind of news…
“And you even dare to call me a pervert for touching Oh-chan’s butt…?” he snorted finally and punched his friend in the shoulder lightly.
“Well, thanks, it was really what I needed from you just now…” Aiba retorted sarcastically.
“Anytime” Nino grinned back at him shamelessly. At first he thought it’d be easier to keep up the bratty act but Aiba seemed to be really troubled and it made his smirk fade from his face slowly. “Ne, do you like him?” he asked silently. He needed to know…
“Like him?... I wonder if I do so or not…” Aiba breathed out rolling on his side turning his back to Nino.
‘Unrequited, forbidden love, huh?’ Nino thought with a bitter, sad smile on his lips. He couldn’t help but wonder if whether it was him who pushed Aiba into these feelings for Sho though he knew the best that it couldn’t work out…
They stay silent after it for a long time till a staff member called Aiba to check the stage setting. As Aiba got up Nino grabbed his wrist and pulled him back to peck his lips.
“You know I’m always here if you feel like… talking to someone…” he whispered to the taller boy before he left…
And Aiba needed him to talk to… a few weeks later…
“I’m busy right now so say it quickly or I’ll hang up” Nino barked into his phone when he picked it up without checking the caller.
He wasn’t actually busy but he wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone… except that someone would be one Ohno Satoshi…
‘Which will never happen…’ Nino had to remind himself every time he slipped into this state of depression.
“Nino, it’s me…”
The skinny boy sat up in his bed immediately when he heard Aiba’s weak voice on the other end of the line.
“Aiba-chan? What’s wrong?” he asked worried. He wasn’t used to hear his friend talking on such a tone.
“He kissed me…” the idol-boy’s whispered voice came.
“Who?” Nino asked confused but then realization hit him. “Sakurai?”
“…and confessed…”
The phone slipped from Nino’s hand hearing this. Did he just hear wrong or Aiba really said that Sakurai confessed to him? How? Why? Why him? Why them? Unanswered questions swirled around in his head but then he heard Aiba’s panicked voice coming from his fallen phone so he picked it back up quickly.
“I’m here, sorry, I dropped my phone…” Nino said honestly. “So, what did you answer him?” he asked desperate to know the whole story.
“Nothing”
Okay something was definitely wrong with his hearing cause he just heard Aiba saying he said nothing to Sakurai after his confession.
“Then what did you do?” Nino asked on a slightly frustrated tone that he had to force out every little piece of information from Aiba like this. “Aiba-chan? What did you do?” he asked again when he friend didn’t answer.
“I slapped him and ran away” Aiba confessed.
“You did WHAT?” Nino cried out. This can’t be happening! This. Just. Can’t. Be! “Thank Goodness! What did I fault in my previous life to be cursed with you as my best friend?” he groaned frustrated.
“Gomen…” Aiba whispered weakly.
“Whatever, now let’s see what can we do after this, okay?” Nino said knowing it has to be him who picks up the pieces after the disaster as always. “Okay, are you finished for today?”
“Un”
“Alright, then I’m on my way to pick you up. I guess you don’t want to go home with your manager after what happened…” he took the silence on the other end as a ‘yes’ and continued. “Then just don’t go anywhere, I’ll be there in half an hour…” he said and hung up.
He knew where he’ll find his friend cause he always hide in the same emergency staircase when something was bothering him…
“There you are! I looked for you everywhere!” Nino said when he almost tripped over Aiba who was crutching in the corner of the fire-exit staircase.
“Hey, what’s wrong, Aiba-chan?” Nino asked when he saw the tearstained face of the boy though he tried to hide it.
Nino crutched down to his friend and pulled away his hands that tried to cover up his messy features to be able to look in his eyes.
“Hey, Masaki… Tell it to Kazu…” he whispered upon seeing those teary, puppy eyes.
“My parents…” Aiba hiccupped and more tears poured down on his face.
“What about them?” Nino asked confused. He was sure this is the first time Aiba ever mentioned his family.
“They gave me away…”
“Like… adaptation?” Nino asked frowning with confusion.
“No! Like selling me to this freak factory!” Aiba shouted kicking out one leg, making Nino fall back on his butt.
The smaller boy blinked shocked as he watched more angry tears sliding down on Aiba’s face. That can’t be… There’s no way there’re parents who does that…
After hanging up on Aiba, Nino immediately dialed another number.
“Sakurai desu” the manager answered the call.
“Yo, Sakurai manager-san!” he said on a cheerful voice. “Would you mind if I pick up Aiba-chan today? We planned to have a little hang-out on my place tonight…”
“Oh, in that case… I guess, that’s okay… He must be at…” Sho started obviously having no idea where his idol was so Nino just cut in:
“Thanks a lot, manager-san!” he chirped and hand up on him in the next minute.
“Now, down to the business…” he muttered determined and pushed himself out of the bed…
A/N: hey there! sorry, it was a kinda short chapter with Aimiya in the center but I hope you liked it ^-^ oh, and sorry for no Oh-chan this time... I noticed just now that I left him out completely in this chap... O.o gomen, ne?